“I am indeed sure,” he said steadily.
Her eyes searched his face. “When you offered for me, I did not think—” Her voice failed. She recovered it. “I know, of course, that persons of our rank do not look for—for the tenderer passions in marriage, but—”
“Did your mother tell you so, my love?” he interrupted.
“Oh, yes, and indeed I do not mean to embarrass you with—with—”
“Infamous! It is precisely what my uncle said to me! Was that what made you so shy, that dreadful day? I know I was ready to sink! My uncle told me I must not look for love in my wife, but only complaisance!”
“Oh, Gilly, how could he say so? Mama said it would give you a disgust of me if I seemed—if I seemed to care for you very much!”
“What very odd creatures they are! They should deal extremely together. As extremely as we shall!”
She sighed, and leaned her cheek against his shoulder. “How comfortable this is!” she said. “And so delightfully vulgar! Does plain Mr. Dash put his arm round ladies in hackney coaches?”
“When not in gaol he does,” the Duke responded.